It was a bit of surprise to learn that this was the final issue of the series as we have seen it under the new 52.  Convergence is coming which is seemingly going to throw characters back together from pre- and post new 52, and that is going to happen first next month with the appearance of Matrix Supergirl in a one-shot.  Although the series has done a decent job of selling comics as opposed to some other series which will be ongoing after Convergence, it appears that this might be the end for the time being for Supergirl as no new series is poised to take over in the post Convergence landscape.

It was with this ignorance that I approached this latest issue of Supergirl, and perhaps this benefited me in my appreciation of the issue.  The story has followed Kara through her exposure to the Crucible Academy, first as a student and then as its foe and finally as its liberator.  What this series has managed to do is to produce a standalone story arc which hasn’t been affected by a crossover into some Superman story arc which has been to the detriment of the series on numerous occasions.  The story line with the Crucible is nothing special, but still helps to tie some science fiction into the character while also reintroducing Maxima into a different light than what she had been known by before.  Supergirl is forced to fight against the mad genius behind the Crucible and manages to save the day alongside her allies.

This accomplishes that this does not really feel like a final issue.  In retrospect after finding this out, a little bit of the plot seems to be shoe-horned in, but equally it felt almost like the lead up into a new story arc.  One might say that this series ends much as it started, with a lot of missed potential, but at the very least this series ends on a relative high note, maybe not accomplishing what it could have, but having been a mostly entertaining run throughout, including this issue.  It is likely that Supergirl will not be gone for long as the character inevitably resurfaces, and to carry on from where it left off might not be the worst for the series or the character.

Story: K. Perkins and Mike Johnson Art: Ema Lupacchino
Story: 8.2 Art: 8.2 Overall: 8.2 Recommendation: Read